Flir Systems acquires Aeryon Labs

Flir Systems, Inc. has acquired Aeryon Labs Inc., a developer of high-performance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the global military, public safety, and critical infrastructure markets, for $200 million.

Aeryon’s vertical takeoff and landing quad-copter airframes integrate multiple sensors, including Flir thermal technology, to provide users with immediate high-resolution intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

Based in Waterloo, Canada, and with offices in Denver and Salt Lake City, Aeryon Labs was founded in 2007 and is a designer and manufacturer of mission-focused Group 1 UAS solutions built around aircraft under 20 pounds.

Aeryon’s family of UAS are deployed by 20 militaries in over 30 countries around the world, including the United States Department of Defense.

Aeryon develops UAS solutions that includes hardware, embedded software, ground control stations, sensors, software for flight operations, as well as supporting services for its global customers.

“The acquisition of Aeryon Labs reinforces our long-term strategy to move beyond providing sensors to the development of complete solutions that save lives and livelihoods,” said Jim Cannon, President and CEO of Flir Systems.

“This acquisition, coupled with our acquisition of Prox Dynamics in 2016, greatly increases our unmanned systems solutions capabilities, expanding beyond nano-UAS into Group 1 UAS solutions for military.

“We intend to continue to invest and build this area of our business and broaden our capabilities as we view unmanned and autonomous solutions to be a significant opportunity for organic growth in the coming years.”